The Chicago Bulls delivered some of their best basketball of the year over the final five weeks of the regular season. That could turn out to be both a blessing and a curse. Rajon Rondo’s injury really exploited Chicago’s lack of depth at the guard position. After taking a surprising 2-0 series lead on the Boston Celtics in the opening round, Rondo’s injury played a key role in the Bulls dropping four straight in their playoff elimination. Now the focus shifts to the future and what direction Chicago will take in the offseason. The Bulls have the majority of their key players under contract through 2017-18 and could decide to build around that core group this offseason. Here is a look at Chicago’s offseason plan.
3 Things The Bulls Have To Work On
1. Choose Immediate Course
It took a red-hot finish and a tiebreak with the Miami Heat just for the Bulls to squeak in to the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. So what does Chicago’s management team do after the club finished with a .500 record? The Bulls could decide to stay the course and build around the current core group with the hope that they can contend in the Eastern Conference next season. The other option it to try and find value for some of the veteran players on their roster in an effort to start over with a rebuild. That one decision will shape the course of their entire offseason. Based on the strong finish and the 2-0 series lead Chicago took on the Celtics before Rondo was injured, it won’t be a surprise if the Bulls decide to stay the course this offseason.
2. Decide On RFA’s
The Bullls have to decide what to do with with Nikola Mirotic and Michael Carter-Williams both set to become restricted free agents. Mirotic was very inconsistent as a scorer and it won’t be a surprise if Chicago looks elsewhere to replace him in free agency. Meanwhile, Michael Carter-Williams missed 37 games and was even worse than Mirotic from the field when he was available. The Bulls have some tough decisions to make with their restricted free agents. It won’t be a surprise if neither Mirotic or Carter-Williams returns.
3. Chase Big Names
For as bleak as things seemed for Chicago at some points throughout the year, the club’s finish should be enough to convince management to build around their current group. Dwyane Wade is set to make close to $24 million next season so he should be back. Jimmy Butler is under contract for three more seasons. Rajon Rondo seemed like a lock to be cut by the Bulls but after an incredible finish to the year he seems like a lock to remain with the club. Robin Lopez and Cameron Payne will be back. Now management will have to decide whom to add in free agency. Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry, George Hill and Jeff Teague are all pending free agents. J.J. Redick and Paul Millsap are both intriguing options as well. If the Bulls decide to go all-in with their current core group then they should chase some big name free agents with a focus on solidifying their status as contenders for next season.
Key Free Agents
Mirotic and Carter-Williams are the two names that Chicago will have to decide on. Both are restricted free agents, so the Bulls have the leverage in terms of whether or not they want to bring them back.
Carter-Williams is all but useless, so expect to see him walk. Rajon Rondo came on strong at the end of the year and the Bulls have and can find better backups. Mirotic will be held whichever way possible. But he could be poached if some team offers him a big deal that the Bulls can’t match.
One other key thing to monitor is Dwyane Wade, who has a player options. He’s very likely to exercise it, though.
Anthony Morrow will be unrestricted but it won’t surprise anybody when Chicago decides against bringing him back. The Bulls could free up some important money by passing on their free agents. That would create the salary the Bulls need to chase some big names on the open market this offseason.
Bet on all of the big NBA games this week at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest NBA betting lines right here.
